Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy in Gulfport, Mississippi
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMD) involves an individualized program that helps retrain patterns of muscle function in the mouth, face and regions of the neck. Gulf Coast Dental is dedicated to ensuring that your OMD Therapy will help to create and maintain a healthy orofacial environment.
OMD Speech Disorder
While speech may be affected for those with OMD, sometimes this is not the case at all. However, as a result of Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder, small children may produce sounds incorrectly. For instance, words that start with an “s” could be pronounced like a “th”. This would result in words like “some” being pronounced as “thumb”. Other sounds could also be pronounced incorrectly due to lip and tongue muscles. The causes children to become self-conscious about their speech impairment as well as their appearance.
Causes of OMD
The following may cause Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder (OMD):
- Allergies
- Enlarged tonsils
- Excessive teeth clenching and grinding, lip and fingernail biting, lip picking, and thumb or finger sucking
- Structural difficulties
- Developmental difficulties
- Heredity predisposition
- Any of the above symptoms combined
Signs and symptoms of OMD
Examples of Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMD) include but are not limited to:
- Clenching or grinding of teeth (Bruxism)
- Cheek, lip and/or cuticle biting
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction
- Pacifier/digit sucking
- Open mouth rest posture (Mouth breathing)
- Tongue thrust
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy
There are numerous possible causes of OMD’s. In order to diagnose and understand the cause of an ODM, other physicians and/or therapists may be needed. To learn more or schedule a consultation, contact us today!
